GM Wants to Dethrone Tesla as EV Charge-Rate Champ

180 miles of range in 10 minutes is the target.

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As electric vehicles continue their march into the mainstream, manufacturers are working overtime to reduce charging times and ease the range-anxiety concerns that have prevented many consumers from taking the EV plunge. According to a Bloomberg News report, General Motors is co-developing a system with partner Delta Americas that will allow drivers to recharge their vehicles at a rate providing 180 miles of range in less than 10 minutes, or 18 miles of range per minute.

According to Sam Abuelsamid, an analyst with Navigant Research, that's significantly quicker than the six-mile-per-minute benchmark set by the Tesla Supercharger network; Porsche is pledging about 12.4-miles-per-minute for its Taycan electric sports car. For comparison, GM claims the current Chevrolet Bolt EV has a charge rate of 25 miles per hour of charge time when connected to a popular Level 2/J1772 fast-charging station; using a DC fast-charger, the Bolt can add 90 miles of range in 30 minutes. (Chevrolet earlier this year announced that it had cut the charging time for the 2019 Volt hybrid by half.)

The newly revealed three-year project is key to GM's plan to offer 20 rapid-charging-capable EVs by 2023. "Everybody would like to replicate what we can do when we're filling a tank of gasoline," said Abuelsamid, "and this is especially true for people who live in cities. It makes a lot of sense to have an EV in urban areas, but people who live there are least likely to have access to charging."

While news of GM's intentions is hardly a revelation, it's reassuring that the maker has the foresight to keep improving charge times to take advantage of improving battery capacity and range. It's likely that Tesla, too, has some long-term flexibility built into its current vehicle and charging architecture and will take a proactive stance in defending its leadership role in emerging industry standards.